British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation targeting an subterranean weapons facility in Syria operated by the IS group, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The location, identified by reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of access tunnels providing entry to the depot... early reports suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their valour," Healey added. "Including them were thousands of British personnel stationed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate militants who threaten our security, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" on Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
